HomeMy WebLinkAboutord1990-124YiWHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL
SUBJECT.•
NO. 90-271
7/24/90 Council
7/23/90 8/7/90 Council
9/4/90 Council
12/4/90 Council Finance
Receipt of proposed Initiative 4 -90: "Shall new high voltage power transmission lines over 115,000 volts
be restricted to industrial zones ?"
ATTACHMENTS:
Initiative Information Sheet; Auditor's certification; sample initiative.
Ordinance
Puget Power notice Public Hearing Needed? Yes No /X f
Official totals of November election
SUMMARY STATEMENT.•
Council's options for action on this item are listed on the attached "Initiative Information' sheet, which
was prepared by Council Staff.
CJ:i zens voted (64.3 percent in favor) to enact the ordinance via initiative at the
November election. In order to have the ordinance properly filed and codified, the
Council Office staff wishes to assign a number to the ordinance.
ORIGINATOR'S RECOMMENDED ACTION.•
None.
12/4: Council staff recommends the Council authorize the numbering of the ordinance.
COMMITTEE ACTION (including dates):
COUNCIL ACTION (including dates):
8/7: Postponed.
9 -4 -90: Discussion
12 /4 /90:assigned ord. number passed 7 -0
Related File Numbers. Ordinance or Resolution Number. ORD90 -124
ORDINANCE NO. 90- 124
An ordinance adopting an amendment to Whatcom County Code, Chapter
20.82.020, setting forth a limitation on the granting of conditional use permits for
high voltage electrical power transmission lines.
WHEREAS, facilities for transmission of electrical power represent a land
use which is single purpose, space consumptive, and irreversible;
WHEREAS; an existing corridor for high voltage electrical power
transmission has already been established in Whatcom County by the Bonneville
Power Administration;
WHEREAS, the development of additional corridors for high voltage power
transmission lines represents a change of character for and is not harmonious with
the rural, agricultural, suburban and urban land use districts of Whatcom County;
WHEREAS, the construction of high voltage power transmission lines
represents a significant adverse impact on the natural environment, its wildlife,
habitat, streams and other elements;
WHEREAS, health hazards are associated with exposure to the
electromagnetic fields, including those generated by high voltage electrical power
transmission lines;
WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature has enacted legislation
creating a task force to recommend additional research needs for limiting human
exposure to electric /magnetic fields from electric transmission lines.
WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council has previously recognized, in
Ordinance No. 86 -21, that residential land use in proximity to electrical
transmission lines may not be in the best interest-of public health and safety;
WHEREAS, the utilization of a new corridor for high voltage
power transmission lines will diminish the value of property near any
such corridor;
WHEREAS, this ordinance amendment conforms to the policies of the
Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan;
WHEREAS, plans by a private entity to establish a new corridor for high
voltage electrical transmission lines in Whatcom County constitute an emergency
making this control necessary to protect the public's safety, health and general
welfare;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, that Title 20, the official
Whatcom County zoning ordinance, Chapter 20.82.020, Public Utilities -- Conditional
Uses be amended to read as follows:
Trunk utility lines, electronic communications and associated minimal
maintenance and operation structures, water storage reservoirs with
volumes exceeding 50,000 gallons or those with height in excess of 12
feet above the ground level measured within 20 feet in all directions
of the tank, pumping stations, treatment plants, sanitary sewer
outfalls, substations, and electrical substations shall require a
conditional use permit and shall be subject to a threshold
determination in accordance with the Whatcom County SEPA
Ordinance. Solid waste facilities and large scale electrical generating
plants are not conditional uses under the name "public utilities" but
are restricted to where they are separately named as uses. Except